Bakkhai Variations:
Villanova Theatre
She Makes Knives Now
Agave, Pentheus’ mother, is left to live with the pain of killing her own son. Alone and in exile, she wanders the world seeking safety and stability. What horrors will she have to endure along the way?
Mark J. Costello — Playwright
Mark J. Costello (Villanova MA 2010) is a professional playwright and teacher based in Philadelphia. He holds an MFA in playwriting from Temple University and is a proud graduate of the Foundry. Nationally, his plays have been presented by theatres in Texas, West Virginia, New Jersey, and Maryland, and he has developed work with Write Now! and the Great Plains Theatre Conference. Closer to home, he has had a number of plays produced through different groups and festivals, such as PTC@Play, Juniper Productions, the Pittsburgh New Works Festival, the White Mountains Project, and Villanova Theatre.
James Ijames — Director
James Ijames is a Philadelphia-based actor, playwright and director. He has appeared regionally in productions at The Arden Theatre Company, The Philadelphia Theatre Company, The Wilma Theatre, Baltimore Center Stage, Mauckingbird Theatre Company, People’s Light and Theatre and Interact Theatre Company. James’ plays have been produced at Flashpoint Theater Company, Orbiter 3, and Theater Horizon and have received development with PlayPenn New Play Conference, The Gulfshore Playhouse, the Wilma Theater, Azuka Theatre, Interact Theatre and Victory Garden. James has worked as a director for Theatre Horizon Lantern Theater Company and Simpatico Theatre Company. James was the 2011 F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Artist recipient, and he also won two Barrymores for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play for Superior Donuts and Angels in America and one Barrymore for Outstanding Direction of a Play for The Brothers Size with Simpatico Theatre Company. James is a 2011 Independence Foundation Fellow and a 2015 Pew Fellow. James is an alumni of the InterAct Core Writers Group and a mentor for The Foundry. He is also a Founding Member of Orbiter 3, Philadelphia’s first playwright producing collective. He received a B.A. in Drama from Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA and a M.F.A. in Acting from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. James is Assistant Professor of Theatre at Villanova University and resides in South Philadelphia.
